Best Matthew Savage Podcasts (2025)

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Reconstruction's Legacy: The Second Founding That Could Have Been 14:14

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3h ago14:14

14:14

In this episode, I look back on the Reconstruction era — a period that represented both a second founding of the United States and one of its greatest unfinished revolutions. Over the past year, I explored the political battles, social transformations, and cultural reckonings that defined Reconstruction. Now, I reflect on what that history means an…

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Public Memory & Myths: Matthew Davis on A Biography of a Mountain 30:20

2d ago30:20

30:20

Join me as I sit down with author Matthew Davis to discuss his new book, A Biography of a Mountain, an in-depth look at the creation, meaning, and legacy of Mount Rushmore. Davis explores how the monument came to symbolize both American pride and historical injustice, tracing its evolution from a tourist attraction to a contested landmark at the he…

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Stock Buybacks and the Trillion Dollar Heist (with Senator Cory Booker) 39:42

2d ago39:42

39:42

Corporations are on track to spend more than $1.3 trillion on stock buybacks this year—money that could have gone toward higher wages, innovation, or community investment. That’s the real-life Trillion Dollar Heist at the center of our new comic from Civic Ventures, which follows Marta, a janitor who interrupts a corporate board meeting just as exe…

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The Insurrection Act: A Civics Lesson in Power, Law, and Order 18:45

5d ago18:45

18:45

The Insurrection Act has stood at the crossroads of law, power, and public order for over two centuries. This episode traces its roots from the Militia Acts of 1792 and 1795 to its modern interpretations in moments of national crisis. Discover how this rarely invoked law has shaped presidential authority, balanced federal and state power, and influ…

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Only Haters w/ Sky Bri 1:31:21

7d ago1:31:21

1:31:21

Adult content creator Sky Bri stops by the pod to discuss her life and work, the future of porn, dating while in the industry, and more for Richardson Magazine A12.

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Ok Gooner TEASER 5:41

7d ago5:41

5:41

The ladies discuss the NYC mayoral race, Luigi's missing months, and the anthropology of gooning.

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Victoria Woodhull: Eden Collinsworth on a Most Improbable Life 40:36

9d ago40:36

40:36

She was a child clairvoyant, the first woman to own a Wall Street brokerage firm—and in 1872, she became the first woman to run for president of the United States. Join me as I sit down with author Eden Collinsworth to unpack the astonishing, unconventional, and often-overlooked life of Victoria Woodhull. Drawing from her new book The Improbable Vi…

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Competing Visions on Trade: A Race to the Bottom Vs. Building the Middle Class (with Thea Lee featuring Todd Tucker) 40:38

13d ago40:38

40:38

In the final episode of our Trade series, Nick and Goldy talk with Thea Lee, former Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, to challenge the core assumption behind decades of U.S. trade policy: That trade is about efficiency, not power. Lee explains how past trade deals were written to protect capital while …

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The Fever That Haunted the South: The Forgotten Epidemic of 1878 15:44

13d ago15:44

15:44

What kind of epidemic could turn a thriving American city into a ghost town almost overnight? Join me as I explore the chilling story of the 1878 yellow fever epidemic—a public health disaster that decimated Memphis and echoed far beyond the Mississippi River Valley. While yellow fever had haunted the U.S. since the slave trade, it was the post–Civ…

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Episode 35: Ice Witch #1 Starring Wi-Moto Nyoka 1:36:42

15d ago1:36:42

1:36:42

Hey, it's the 35th episode with Wi-Moto Nyoka! Wi-Moto is one of the coolest people I've ever talked to, so I hope you will follow her Patreon or check out her Linktree or just binge Black Women Are Scary, my favorite horror podcast. We're chatting about Ice Witch #1 by Regine Sawyer with art by Crespo. You can find it at Lockett Down Productions. …

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Nyetwork 2:09:44

18d ago2:09:44

2:09:44

The ladies review Sidney Lumet's Network and discuss the Ellison media takeover and the Young Republican groupchat.

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South of the Border: A Mexican Perspective on the Free Trade Era (with Juan Carlos Moreno-Brid) 30:44

20d ago30:44

30:44

In the sixth episode of our trade series, Pitchfork Economics producer Freddy Doss talks with Mexican economist Juan Carlos Moreno-Brid about how NAFTA — and now the USMCA — reshaped Mexico’s economy in ways that those of us north of the Rio Grande almost never hear about. Yes, exports skyrocketed. But wages stagnated, domestic industry hollowed ou…

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Fuentanyl OD w/ Nicholas J Fuentes TEASER 6:02

16d ago6:02

6:02

The ladies are joined by host of America First Nick Fuentes to discuss his generational run.

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Before Jack the Ripper: The Savage Crimes of the Servant Girl Annihilator 16:08

20d ago16:08

16:08

What if America’s first serial killer wasn’t H.H. Holmes—but someone far more brutal and completely forgotten? In this episode, I unravel the chilling mystery of the Servant Girl Annihilator, a violent and elusive murderer who stalked Austin, Texas from 1884 to 1885—years before Holmes ever claimed a victim. Eight people were slaughtered in their h…

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Holy Local: Shae Corey on Religion, Oral History, and Public Memory in D.C. 39:57

26d ago39:57

39:57

What can one church in Washington, D.C. reveal about American religious life, social justice, and the power of oral history? In this episode, I talk with public historian Shae Corey, the creator and producer of the podcast Holy Local, which grew out of an in-depth oral history project focused on the Church of the Saviour. Shae shares what it takes …

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North of the Border: A Canadian Perspective on the Free Trade Era (with Luke Savage) 30:42

27d ago30:42

30:42

In the fifth episode of our series on trade, journalist and author Luke Savage joins Pitchfork Economics Producer Freddy Doss to unpack how decades of “free trade” between the U.S. and Canada have reshaped both economies—entrenching corporate power, hollowing out manufacturing, and weakening democratic control over economic policy. Savage traces ho…

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Diamond in the Rough: The Murder of Bessie Moore 15:08

27d ago15:08

15:08

In 1877, the body of a woman was found near a twisted oak tree in Jefferson, Texas—dressed in fine clothes, shot in the head, and missing a diamond ring. Her name was Bessie Moore, better known as Diamond Bessie. What followed was one of the most sensational murder trials in Texas history. Join me as I dive into the tangled story behind her death a…

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Trade Wars Are Class Wars (with Matthew C. Klein) 49:28

1M ago49:28

49:28

By Civic Ventures

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Episode 34: Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #1 Starring Oliver Brackenbury 1:51:10

1M ago1:51:10

1:51:10

By bestissueever

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Podcast of Our Discontent w/ Thomas Chatterton Williams 3:07:58

1M ago3:07:58

3:07:58

Thomas Chatterton Williams returns to the pod to talk about his new book Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse.

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Louisiana Voodoo: Untangling the Myths, the Magic, and the History 14:48

1M ago14:48

14:48

Join me this week as I dig into the real story behind Louisiana Voodoo — a spiritual tradition shaped by West African roots, Haitian resistance, and the streets of New Orleans. Discover how the Haitian Revolution sent shockwaves across the Atlantic, bringing people, beliefs, and tensions into the heart of Louisiana. Hear the story of Betsey Toledan…

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You Can't Tariff Knowledge (with César Hidalgo) 41:51

1M ago41:51

41:51

Tariffs won’t save America’s economy—but knowledge might. In the third episode of our Trade series, Nick and Goldy sit down with physicist César Hidalgo to explore how prosperity really grows—not through tariffs or trickle-down promises, but through the accumulation of knowledge and know-how. Hidalgo explains why digital exports don’t show up in tr…

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White Man’s Law Rules the Country: The Modoc War 20:36

1M ago20:36

20:36

One of the costliest conflicts launched in opposition of Indigenous Americans, the Modoc War pitted the United States Army against a dwindling band of Modoc. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Modoc fighters successfully defended their post for six months. Yet the Modoc War remains one of the least known conflicts in history. Tune in to learn…

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Jimmy Krimmenal 1:56:41

2M ago1:56:41

1:56:41

The ladies discuss Jimmy Kimmel's temporary cancellation, Trump's H-1B fee, and the new Kanye doc, In Whose Name?

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Je Suis Charlie TEASER 3:22

1M ago3:22

3:22

The ladies discuss the murders of Iryna Zarutska and Charlie Kirk.

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A Version of Sisterhood: Unwed & Unbothered with Emma Duval 45:55

2M ago45:55

45:55

From spinsters to old maids, women who broke conventions to remain single have long been derided as somehow outside of the norm. But history shows this has been happening for generations. What gives? Join me this week as I sit down with author and illustrator Emma Duval to chat about her debut book, Unwed & Unbothered: The Defiant Lives of Single W…

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How Economists Forgot the Real World and Led Us Astray (with Nat Dyer) 41:18

1M ago41:18

41:18

In the second episode of our Trade series, Nick and Goldy talk with author Nat Dyer about his book Ricardo’s Dream: How Economists Forgot the Real World and Led Us Astray. Dyer reveals how David Ricardo’s famous theory of comparative advantage—long touted as proof that free trade is always a win-win—was built on unrealistic assumptions and a false …

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Community Care: Black Women During Reconstruction 15:02

2M ago15:02

15:02

Join me this week as I explore the vital but often overlooked role of Black women in the Reconstruction-era South. In the aftermath of the Civil War, Black women were central to rebuilding Black communities and creating the social foundation for future generations. Through everyday acts of care, resistance, and resilience, they redefined citizenshi…

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Unpacking the Mind Behind Vietnam: Dr. William Taubman on McNamara At War 52:04

2M ago52:04

52:04

Join me as I sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer William Taubman to explore his latest work, McNamara at War: A New History. Authors Philip and William Taubman take readers behind the scenes of Robert S. McNamara’s career, from his role in shaping U.S. defense policy to the internal conflicts that defined his legacy. In this episode, we…

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Trade Wars, Class Wars & Globalization: Unpacking The Truth About Trade (featuring David Autor & Marc Palen) 47:52

2M ago47:52

47:52

In this kickoff to our special series on trade, Nick and Goldy unpack why trade policy isn’t just about tariffs and treaties—it’s about people, power, and priorities. For decades, the prevailing narrative has been that trade benefits everyone by lowering prices. But the real question is: who does it help, and who does it hurt? From the false promis…

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Talking to Books: Education during Reconstruction 15:56

2M ago15:56

15:56

After the Civil War, education became one of the most powerful tools for newly freed Black Americans and one of the most fiercely contested. Join me as I explore the rise of Black education during Reconstruction, from grassroots schools built by the Black community to the founding of the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). L…

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Episode 33: Showcase #78 Starring Nathanial Hubbard 1:39:32

2M ago1:39:32

1:39:32

Welcome to episode 33 of the Best Issue Ever podcast! This week we have returning champion Nathanial Hubbard! Hub hosted a ton of episodes of the podcast that was once Teen Titans Wasteland which became Titan Up the Defense and is now occasionally updated as Champions of Digression. His last episode was about Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane, and it…